West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United: match preview

Read a full match preview of the Premier League game between West Bromwich
Albion and Manchester United on Saturday March 8, 2014, kick-off 12.45 (GMT)

Fit for purpose: Robin van Persie, in action for Holland against France on Wednesday, has recovered from illness and is hopeful of adding to his four goals in his last six Premier League appearances against West Bromwich AlbionPhoto: GETTY IMAGES

Team News West Brom look likely to be without key midfielders Chris Brunt and James Morrison for their Barclays Premier League clash at home to Manchester United.

Captain Brunt and fellow senior squad member Morrison both returned with knocks from international duty for Northern Ireland and Scotland respectively and will be assessed before the match.

Nicolas Anelka will begin his five-match ban while right-back Billy Jones is out, but Stephane Sessegnon and Claudio Yacob are both back in contention.

Meanwhile, Manchester United striker Robin van Persie is fit even though he fell ill on international duty this week.

Striker Javier Hernández is unavailable after he suffered a knee injury in Mexico's friendly against Nigeria, but forward Juan Mata returns after being cup-tied for United's Champions League defeat to Olympiacos.

Match Notes David Moyes will need no reminding that his first season in charge of Manchester United has been defined by opponents ending all kinds of winless runs against the club.

Everton and Newcastle have secured first wins in a generation at Old Trafford, Swansea their first-ever, but West Brom set it all in motion by recording their first win at United since the 1970s last September.

With Albion manager Pepe Mel searching for his first win in charge today, Moyes really cannot afford another 'first'.

Stat of the game: United’s 45 points is five fewer than their previous lowest at this stage of the season, in 1992-93.